Filling containers with liquid



Oct. 25, 1932. A R, THOMPSON 1,884,916

FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Filed Feb. 20, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l [N VENTOR.

@gm /a MW BY Mv mf A TTOR NE YS.

Oct. 25, 1932. A, R. THQMPSON 1,884,916

FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Filed Feb. 20, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A INVENTOR. am# /a MWL@ BY ma w ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 25, 1932. A. R. THOMPSON FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Filed Feb. 20, 1929 Sheets-Sheet 3 VTOR. @6&1 F, wun

BY mmf@ 73.11(

A TTOR NE YS.

Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STAIRS .PM-Er erica;

ALBERT R. THOMPSON, 0F` SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ANDERSON-BARN- GROVER MFG. CO., OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CAliIlEORNIAv FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Application filedk February 20, 1929.v Serial' No. 341,313.

My invention relates tothe art of vfilling containers with liquid. The particular em-' bodinient of the invention herein shown and described for purposes of illustration is adapted for use fin the canning art, as a syruper, but it is to be understood that the invention may be appliedto the filling of any containers with liquid to a`v predetermined level.

The object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for filling containers which can be embodied in a machine of simple construction, capable of continuous and rapid operation, and which fills each container 'f automatically to a predetermined level without waste or spilling of the liquid. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which should be read with the under- "f standing that the method involved in the invention may be embodied in apparatus-other Ithan that shown and described herein, andv that the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts of the described appara.- tus may be varied, lwithin the limits of the claims hereto appended, without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth therein. 'l

The invention is preferably embodied in a machine having a rotating can carryingturret adapted to continuously advance a procession of cans in a circular path, during which movement the cans are successively filled with liquid. The liquid first` lls the can completely, and its level is subsequently fit) lowered to a predetermined point by the tiiting of th-e can, thereby causing-the excess liquid to flow out of the can and return to the liquid containing reservoir. The construction of a machine embodying the invention in the preferred form will now be described` with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a partly broken side elevation, the

l" cans' and the details of the filling valves being emitted for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the machine as seen from the opposite side.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of the filling valve showing a can in filling relation thereto.

^ Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig; 3 showing the valve inclosed position.; l

F ig. 5 is a diagrammatic'development of 5.3;

the path of travel of a can through the ma# chine.

In the drawings`,the refer-ence numeral 1 designates a base from which rises an inclined central shaft or spindle 2. Upon said shaft i.

vit and the tank 4 are rotated about the central spindle2 by any suitable mean s,`notv shown.

Because of the fixed inclination', of the central spindle`2, the turret 3 and-the tank 4 rotate in planes inclined from the horizontal, as shown clearly in Fi gs. 1 and 2.,f The turret 3 carries a series of evenly spaced guide members 7, in eachof which is a longitudinally slidable can holder comprising a shank 8 and a head 9, the-shank extending into the' guide 7 and the head 9 being adapted to support and hold a can 10, ashshownin'Figs. 3 and 4. As an example of a suitable means for holding the can securely upon the head'9, I have shownv the latter as provided with under-cut guide flanges 11 adapted to engage the iiange or rim 12 upon the'lower end of the can. One side of the head 9 is open, as shown, to permit the can to be slid horizontally in and out. c 7

The can holders are raised' and lowered in their guides 7, as the turret revolves, by means of a stationary cam 13 formed upon or carried bythe base 1. Each holder shank Slias a pin 14 projecting through a slot 15 in the guide 7 and carrying a roller 16 adapted to ride Y upon the cam 13. n For the greater part of its circumference, the cam 13 lies in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of the turret 3, but upon one side of the machine. as shown in Fig. 1, said cam has an abrupt depression 13a followed by a horizontal portion 13b,

lill

which returns to the inclined plane ot the remainder of said cam. The turret is assumed to rotate from right to left in Figs. 1 and 2. The guides 7 are angularly related to the plane of the turret 3 in such a manner that the can holder whose roller 16 is travelling .upon the horizontal portion 13?) of the cam is approximately vertical, as indicated at the position B of Fig. 1. it will be seen that the can holder is exactly vertical only at one position in the revolution of the turret, this position occurring about the 'center of the horizontal portion 13b of the cam. It will also be seen that any given can holder, as it is carried around by the rotation of the turret,

is moved toward and away from the bottom of the tank 4 in addition to being carried through a continuously varying angle of inclination from the vertical. Thus at the position A, Fig. 1, the .holder is farthest removed rom the bottom of the tank 4, and is almost vertical. From this position to the position C, said holder approaches the tank 4 and passes through its vertical position at B, From the position C to the position D the holder remains at the same distance below the tank 4, but is lower in space because of the inclined travel of the turret 3. From the position D around to the position F, i. e. througha travel of 180 degrees, the holder remains in the samerelative position to the tank 4, but is elevated in space, and its inclination is first increased and then decreased, reaching a maximum about the point E, Fig. 2, which is approximately opposite the point B of Fig. 1. From F to A the holder recedes away from the bottom of the tank 4 and its inclination approaches the vertical. `These various positions of the can are also shown in the diagram of Fig. 5, which is a development oi the path of the can, showing its relation to the tank 4 in its various positions. As in Figs. 1 and 2, the can is assumed to move from right to left.

In the bottom of the tank 4 are a plurality of valves, indicated conventionally at 17 in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, one positioned in longitudinal alignment above each can holder. These valves are, of course, inclined with respect to the bottom of the tank, their inclination corresponding respectively with that of the can holders carried by the turret. One valve is shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, and a description thereof will suliice for all. The

` bottom of the tank 4 is provided with an inclined flanged aperture 17, to which is bolted, inside the tank, a spider 18. A iieXible annulus 19 formed of rubber or other suitable resilient material is clamped between the flange of the aperture 17 and the base oit the spider 18.

The spider 18 carries a central hollow stem 20 upon the lower end of which is a head 21 slightly concave on its under surface` The aperture of said stem 20 communicates with a vent tube 22 which extends upwardly to the and no liquid can escape from the tank.'

lNhen, by reason of the upward movement oi the can holder 9, the can 10 is elevated against the annulus 19, said annulus is raised away from the head 21, as shown in Fig. 3, thus allowing the liquid to flow from the `tank 4 into the can. The contact of the edge of the can with they annulus 19 `prevents any spilling of the liquid, and the vent 22 allows the air from the can to escape as the liquid iiows into it. if the can contains any solid matter, such as pieces of fruit, the head 21 bears lightly upon the top thereof, holding the same in place during the tilting of the can.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 5., the tullcans'are successively removed Jfrom the holdi ers 9 and the empty cans placed thereupon at or between the positions A and B, either manually or by any suitable mecha ism, not shown in the drawings. In this regionV of the travel oi" the holder, it is approximately Vertical, and is lowered so that the can is entirely clear of the iilling valve, as shown in Fig. 4. Vf hen the can is elevated by its holder into contact withthe valve, which condition occurs at the position C and continuous unt-il the position F is reached, i. e. for about three-quarters of a revolution, the valve is held open, as shown in 3, and the can is in free communication with the interior of the tank 4.

, The level of the liquid within the tank is maintained vconstant by any suitable mechani sm, such for example as that illustrated in Fig. 1, comprising a valve indicated at 2G operated by a float 27. said valve controlling the liquid supply pipe 28.r which is adjustably carried by the spindle 2. A screw 29 operating in iianges 30 secured to said spindle and threaded through a collar 31 secured to the liquid supply pipe 28 and slidable upon the spindle 2, provides a means for raisin or lowering said pipe and the valve 26 and thereby ladjusting the level of the liquid within the tank 4.

The level of the liquid within the tank, as indicated by the line 32 in 1 and 5. maintained at such a position that the valves in the bottom of' said tank are below said level for a part of their travel and above it for the remainder thereof. The eiiect of this condition is to cause the liquid to flow into the can from the time it passes the position C until it reaches an approximately op# posite position, upon the other side oi the machine, as indicated at E in Fig. 5. From this position to the position cF,.the valve is above the level vof tliefliquid inthe tank 4, and, the can being inclined, a portion ofthe liquid ywhich has previously lflowed into it, flows out again back into the tank. This flow of the excess liquid back to the tank continues until stopped by the loweringof the4 liquid in said can and the decreasing inclination thereof. Then as the-can is againV righted to a vertical position, the levelof the liquid within it is at a predetermineddistance below its top, such distance being determined by the maximum inclination of the can after its valve emerges frombeneath the levelof the liquid in the tank, which is easily plee and still drain off the excess liquid from the cans by tilting them. Moreover, the tilt.- ing of thecans, whereby such drainage is effected, is produced automatically as a natural result of theinclined rotation of the` turret, without necessitating any additional mechanism, and the drained excess liquid returns directly to the tank from which it came, without waste or spilling. v Y l The simplicity of the machine will be ap- '.1 parent. The only moving parts are the rotary turret and tank, the slidable can holders, and the-flexible annuli in the filling valves. -By inclining the axis of the turret, and inclining the can holders with respect to said axis, I

' am able to place a can in the machine in a vertical position, to avoid any possible spilling of its solid or other contents; raise said can into filling relation with the filling valve; lower the can and valve below the level of the liquid in the tank, so that it is filled by gravity; raise said can and valve above said liquidlevel and tilt them to drain the excess liquid back into the tank; and finally restore the can to a vertical position in which it can l be removed from the machine without spilling its contents. All these operations are performed. by the few moving parts mentioned above, during and as a result of the rotation of the turret. The speed of the machine is limited only by the time required for feeding and discharging the cans.

The final level of the liquid in each can is always the same, and cany be easily adjusted by raising or lowering the float valve 26.

VIt is to be noted that, once the can has been placed in Contact with the filling valve 1'1" in the bottom of the tank 4, there is no further relative movement between the can and the tank until said can is removed from the filling the machine; .The can and the tank therefore maintain a fixed -relation during the greater partwof the revolution of said tank. During such movement of the tank, however, the y movement ofthe can, in space, is af compound one, involving continuousshifting and changing inclination of its axis, and lowering and raising withrespect to `the liquid level in the tank. AThe result of this ycompound motion isa twisting and rolling of the can, both during the filling of liquid thereinto and the overflow of the excess therefrom. If the can contains solid matter, such as whole fruit or pieces thereof, this twisting and rolling of the can isl of great advantage in that it gently shifts the solid portion of the can contents, thereby preventing the formation of air pockets under or between pieces of such solids.

The twisting and rolling motion of the can, while maintained in fixed relation to the tank,

is'caused by the inclination of the tank axis and the additional inclination of the can axis relative to'said tank axis. This relative inclination of the can axis', it will be noted,v1s

in a plane tangential to the tank, and not radial thereto, and causes the can to pass througha vertical or substantially vertical position, at one point only, about midway between its highest and lowest points in 'the rotary travel of the tank, viz z-the position B of Fig. 1.

(I claim l. The method of'filling and draining con-v tainers with liquid which consists in positioning a container below a confined body of liquid; then rotating the container bodily about an inclinedaxis, causing the top of the container to pass first below and then above the level'of said body of liquid, the axis of the container maintaining constant angular relation with the axis of rotation and being substantially vertical at thepoint of positioning.

2. The method of filling and drainingk containers with liquid which consists in positioning a container below a conlinedbody o-f liquid; then rotating the container bodily about an inclined axis, causing the top of the container 'to pass first below and then'above the level of said body of liquid; establishing y,

communicationbetween the container and the body of liquid during said rotation, the container remaining outside the body of liquid during said rotation and its axis maintaining constant angular relation with the axis of roing a container in filling relation thereto and .I means for moving said tank and said container without change in relative position in an inclined orbital path which causes the axis of said ycontainer to lie in a vertical plane of continuously changing horizontal angularity.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a movable liquid containing tank having a discharge aperture; means for holding a container 1n filling relat1on thereto;

and means for moving said tank and said conl them to lie in a substantially horizontal plane at one point in the rotation ot said tank; and means for moving containers into and out oi filling relation with said seats.

6.v in apparatus for the described purpose comprising a liquid containing tank rotatable about an inclined axis; can receiving seats angularly mounted in the bottom of said tank; the angularity ci said seats causing them to lie in a substantially horizontal plane at one point in the rotation of said tank; means tor holding open top containers and moving them into and out of contact with said seats while said seats are substantially horizontal; and means for establishing communication between the tank and the containers in contact vith said seats.

7. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a liquid containing tank rotatable about an inclined. axis; said tank having a. discharge aperture positioned to travel in a path lying partly below and partly above the level ot the liquid in said tank; an d means for positioning a container to be filled in free filling relation with said aperture, and for maintaining the relative positions ot said tank and said container unchanged during the rotation of said tank.

8. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a liquid containing tank rotatable about an inclined axis and provided with a discharge aperture positioned to travel in a path lying partly below and partly above the level of: the liquid in said tank; a holder adapted to receive and hold a container to be lilled with Vits axis inclined with respect to said tank axis, said holder beine` rotatable with said tank; and means for moving said holder to carry the container into and out oit filling relation with said aperture without change in the relative angular relation between said axes.

An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a turret rotatable about an inclined axis; a tank rotatable and coaxial with said turret and spaced above it: a holder adapted to receive and hold a container to be filled with its axis inclined with respect to said tank axis; said holder being` movably carried by the turret; means 'for raising` and lowering said holder during the rotation or" said turret to move the container axially into and out oi filling relation with the tank; and a discharge valve in said tank operated by the raising and lowering ot the container by said holder. f i

l0. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a turret rotatable about an inclined axis; a tank rotatable and coaxial withsaid turret and spaced above it; a guide mounted upon said turret at an incline to the plane thereof; a holder adapted to receive a container to be filled; said holder being slidably carried in said guide; a stationary cam track coaxial with the turret; a cam follower carried by said holder and adapted to raise and lower the container held thereby into and out of filling relation with the tank; and means for establishin tree flow oi liquid between the tank and the positioned container. V

11. An apparatus i-'or the described purpose comprising a turret rotatable .about an inclined axis; a tank rotatable and coaxial with said turret and spaced above it; a holder adapted to receive a container to be filled; said holder being movably carried by said turret and inclined with respect to the axis thereof to position said container substantially vertically at one point in the rotation oi said turret; means for raising and lowering said holder during the rotation of the turret to carry the container into and out ot filling relation with the tank; said holder being lowered while the container is passing'its vertical position; and means for establishing` free flow of liquid between the tank and the positioned container, the rotation of the tank and turret carrying said container successively below and above the level oi the liquid in said l2. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a liquid containing tank rotatable about/an inclined axis and provided with a discharge aperture; means for positioning a container to be filled in filling relation to said aperture with its axis inclined with relation to satr tank axis; and means tor maintaining the axes of said container and said tank in fixed angular relation durin the rotation of the latter.

18. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a liquid containing tank rotatable about an inclined axis and provided with a discharge aperture in its bottom` means for positioning a container to be filled in free filling relation to said aperture with the upper end of said container in close contact with the bottom of said tank.J and means tor maintaining a fixed relation between said container and said tank; said discharge aperture being carried successively below and above Vthe level of the liquid in. said tank by the rotation thereof.

14. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a liquid containing tank rotatable about an inclined axis and provided with a discharge aperture in its bottom, said aperture being carried successively be-v low and above the level of the liquid by the rotation of said tank, and means for holding a container to be filled in filling relation to said aperture with its axis angularly related to the axis of said tank.

15. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a liquid containing tank rotatable about an inclined axis and provided with a discharge aperture in its bottom, said aperture being carried successively below and above the level of the liquid by the rotation of said tank, a holder rotatable with said tank, said holder being formed and positioned to receive a container to be filled, and to hold said container with its axis permanently angularly related to the axis of the tank and passing through a vertical position at one point in the rotation of the tank, and means for moving said holder to carry the container into filling relation with said discharge aperture and to maintain it in such relation throughout the rotation of the tank except when the axis of the container is substantially vertical.

16. An apparatus of the character described comprising a liquid containing tank rotatable about an inclined axis and provided with a container actuated discharge valve in its bottom, said valve being carried successively belovx7 and above the level of the liquid by the rotation of the tank, and means for placing a container to be filled into operative relation with said valve.

17. An apparatus of the character described comprising a liquid containing tank rotatable about an inclined axis and provided with a container actuated discharge valve in its bottom, said valve being carried successively `below and above the level of the liquid by the rotation of the tank, means for placing a container to be filled into operative relation with said valve, said placing means holding said container with its axis so disposed that the container assumes a vertical position during a portion of its travel. Y

18. An apparatus of the character described comprising a liquid containing tank rotatable about an inclined axis and provided with a discharge aperture in its bottom, said aperture being carried successively below and above the level of the liquid by the rotation of the tank, and means for holding a container adjacent said aperture whereby it is filled during its tra-vel below the liquid level and a portion of the liquid returned to the tank when said container and aperture are above the liquid level.

19. An apparatus 'of the character described comprising a liquid containing tank rotatable about an inclined axis and provided with a container actuated discharge valve in its bottom, said valve being carried successively below and` above the level of the liquid by the rotation of the tank, means for holding a container and moving it into operative relationv with said valve, and means for rotating the tank and holding means in unison.

20. An apparatus of the character de'-v scribed comprising a liquid containing tank rotatable about an inclined axis and provided with a container actuated discharge valve in its bottom, said valve` being carried Vsuccessively below and above the level of the 'liquid by the rotation of the tank, means forholding a container and moving it into operative relation with said valve,

and means for rotating the tank and holding 

